#tokyotwosome
Text
A French Excursion
Toulouse
7/29/2018 - My first taste of Europe began in the south of France, in the city of Toulouse. My expectations of France stemmed from books and movies, which truly limits you to two senses; sight and sound. Naturally I expected to see breathtaking architecture and streets filled with centuries of European history. What I hadn’t anticipated were the other senses we would experience; the smells, the flavors, and the feeling. As I write this segment of the blog, I’m sitting on the terrace of our hotel as the sun rises to awaken the city. You can hear the vrooms of mopeds weaving through the alleys. You can feel the fresh breeze of the crisp morning air with a hint of a summer scent drifting with it. It’s something capable of forcing a pessimist to smile. The temperature is a comfortable 69°F (about 20°C). I’m sipping my morning “café – coffee” as I wash down my “chocolatine - a chocolate croissant”, that we bought just last night while walking around the markets. While other visitors come out to their balcony, you greet them with “bonjour” as if you’ve been saying it for years. There isn’t a skyscraper in sight. Just brick buildings upon brick buildings that look like they all have a story to share. Rob has spent several days already completing an extended business trip at Airbus. While he’s at work today, I am off to spend my first day exploring the city, solo.
As mentioned, Rob had been spending some time at Airbus, providing product support. Through work, he made a friend at Airbus (Julien), who invited us over for a late dinner at his place. Julien’s girlfriend and I spent the day sightseeing in Toulouse. At dinner, Julien, prepared us duck soaked in red wine, served with rice, French pâté, cheeses of all varieties, meats, and more. Then we washed it all down with some rum, where our new friend showed us how to prepare it properly. Julien told us about his home country; a tiny island nestled to the east of Madagascar. A fun and delightful way to spend our last night in Toulouse.
[a free tour inside the Capitole de Toulouse Building, pictured above]
To sum up a few interesting facts I learned in my first few days in France:
There’s a TV tax - used to fund local French TV networks.
Business isn’t always open – With Paris being the exception, hours of operation tend to vary in France. Sometimes it’s too late in the day for a croissant at a café. Or sometimes it’s too early for dinner and all restaurants don’t open until 7:30 PM. A way to avoid this is by going to bakeries for baked goods and then going to a local park. It’s much more efficient if you’re on the go, downside being you miss the outdoor café on the street atmosphere. Apart from food, boutiques are typically not open until 10 AM or so. Oh and Sundays? Forget about it. Many of the French truly live by exercising their day of rest. That goes for shops as well. Need not worry! There may be a local outdoor market open.
Bakeries are no joke – Bread is the staple of this country. It was a major player in the French Revolution. Seeing passersby with a baguette in their bag is in no way unusual. There’s a bakery around every corner, each item a soft, fluffy, piece of heaven. You can smell the bakeries in the street, making it impossible not to stop and snag a pastry.
Cheese is also no joke - The French cheese puts our cheese to shame. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a nice Wisconsin sharp cheddar as much as the next guy...but French cheese is savory on a whole other level!
Bordeaux
7/31/18 - Next stop, that’s right you guessed it; wine country. We decided to rent a car, a manual no less. A French car; a Peugeot. It was about a 2-hour drive north of Toulouse. Having experience driving a manual, I thought what a thrifty idea. Let’s not get into the narrow European one-way streets...eventually, we made it to Bordeaux. The city itself is just that, a city. Where were the acres of vineyards? We would soon travel 20 min east to Saint-Émilion to find out. But before we head out of the city, we stop by the Bordeaux Wine Museum. The Museum included a tasting and allowed you to explore the smells and sights of wine around the world. It was cool to see Yakima Valley (a Washington region) being recognized as a world-renowned wine within the museum. Wine is a big contributor to romance; the museum touched on that countless times. An interesting take on wine. After grabbing a French lunch buffet, we head out towards Saint-Émilion. The streets start to quiet and those vineyards finally make their grand appearance.
Our Airbnb sat within vineyards and the city we’d just left behind was a world away. This is the kind of countryside life where you can really forget about your troubles. The next day we had an electric bike tour planned through the Saint-Émilion chateaus and little did we know what an exceptional experience it would turn out to be.
Our tour consisted of 8 riders and one guide. Our guide Julie was a local French gal, sharing her knowledge of the area’s history as we zigged and zagged through the back roads of vineyards. We learned about the importance of the soil; the area mostly comprised of limestone and clay - the perfect soil suitable for merlot and cab franc. The other 6 riders in our group were all Australian and what an entertaining lot they were! As we made our way through the hills, we eventually made our first stop at Château Panet. Here we walked through the Château where the wine was being made, learning about the process along the way. We ended the tour with an outdoor picnic of wine, cheeses, meats, and breads. We chatted with the rest of the group, learning that they all are from Melbourne. One of the riders complimented me on my accent, which was the first and likely the last time that will ever happen. Who ever thought an American accent could be “charming”?
Our final stop on our tour was Château Saint-Georges, a true castle once owned by the king of France. We walked around the breathtaking grounds, stopping to try the smells and flavors in the garden. Each item in the garden was carefully chosen to help represent different notes within the wine. They also told us about how much the weather impacts the harvest, and why you often hear wine connoisseurs say things like, “2015 is an excellent vintage” or “that’s a good year”. We learned how you identify older wines vs younger by the color. We discovered so much about wine that we didn’t know, in such a short span of time.
Paris
8/3/18 - Paris, the world’s most visited city in the world, is its own breed. Comparing it to the rest of France isn’t a fair comparison really. We stayed at an Airbnb apartment within the heart of the city. Everything was within walking distance, with places like Notre Dame just a short walk away. Sure, in a city like Paris you’re going to come across a few homeless people digging through the trash and you have to be mindful of the possibility of pickpockets. If you’re able to avoid this and/or not allow it to spoil your visit, Paris can be very charming. Keeping a loose agenda and simply walking along the river, stumbling across places as you go, is the best way to do it. We stopped by a cafe, where a friend of a friend had just opened business (Jozi Cafe). He gave us some great advice on things to see and things to avoid. We joked with him about how he’d never been to the Louvre, much like we’ve never gone on Ride the Ducks in Seattle and how you’re often not the tourist in your own city. We visited Shakespeare and Co. bookstore to check out the 1920′s gathering spot for famous writers such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. We even bought Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, a nonfiction that he wrote describing his time in Paris. Don’t forget to have the store clerk stamp your book with a Shakespeare & Co. stamp before you go!
The Eiffel Tower - the symbol of romance in Paris. You can find an Eiffel Tower in the states on shirts, bags, or home decor. Seeing it in person really depicts its grandness. We needn’t bother go up the tower; we simply wanted to see it up close and in-person. Our 4th Wedding Anniversary we spent at a restaurant on the water, just beneath the tower. While enjoying our meal and our view, we did our favorite thing to do when we travel; people watch. We noticed our server speaking Spanish to the table to our right and French to the table on our left. He spoke English to us, so this was pretty impressive how he could just switch gears in a matter of moments. Tipping is not a custom in France, but you can certainly leave one if you feel the service was superb. While the boat tour on the river had been going on for hours, we opted to skip it during the day. The weather was hot, muggy, and uncomfortable. Instead, we did the tour during the sunset which proved to be both romantic and a much more comfortable and rewarding experience.
We spent our last day at The Louvre. We managed to see all of our favorites within 3 hours. The renaissance paintings being our favorite. Liberty Leading the People left the biggest impression on me. It was a must see and I wouldn’t recommend skipping it if you’re in Paris. Overall, we loved France and have every intention of visiting again one day. Travelling really teaches you a lot of lessons and opens your eyes to the big beautiful world out there. You also learn a lot about your own country through the perspective of other countries. Our craving for travel continues so stay tuned! We aren’t certain where our next trip will be. Brazil, Hong Kong, Singapore, Iceland, and the UK are all on the horizon. Thanks for reading; until next time.
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Ohio: Land of Flatness & Friendly People
Ohio is a state that is likely not on your list of Top States to Visit in the U.S. With that in mind, we went to Ohio for a friend’s wedding, having no real expectations or knowledge of the state. For me, the farthest west I’ve ventured to is Las Vegas, Nevada - west coast make some noise! Yet, Ohio is like the coy girl in school that keeps to herself and, once you get to know her, you discover how vivacious she really is.
Why in god’s name did we visit Ohio? Great question!
The visit all started with our friends Luke and Naoko. Luke is a friend we’d met through mutual means some years ago, eventually introducing us to his Japanese fiance, Naoko. Luke was born and raised in a country home in Ohio, nestled on a farm in a quaint town called Pemberville. The two lovebirds first met in Ohio where they attended Bowling Green State University. Naoko was there for a study aboard program, and eventually planned to return to Japan. Their relationship blossomed from there and the two spent an extended amount of their relationship in different countries. Skype was their favorite date night. Five years, they managed to do this. Naoko was even in Japan during my honeymoon - even coming to meet the tokyotwosome to give us a tour of a city she knew little about. All the while, her fiance was living in Seattle. It was closer to her, yet, the Pacific Ocean still kept them apart. When we moved to Japan in 2015, Naoko was getting ready to finally move to Seattle. We were lucky to spend some time with her before she left and joked about how “when we finally thought we’d to live in the same country, we both moved to each other’s country”. Okay, now that you have some background as to why we decided Ohio of all places, let me tell you a bit about this Midwestern state.
The trip started at our Airbnb in a little town called Risingsun, Ohio. Japan happens to be the land of the rising sun, so the location seemed kismet. The property, known as “Eight Leafed Clover” was perfectly surrounded by trees, giving it a private oasis feel, with a little window to walk out to the farmland. The mini-forests in the distance is where hunters go to game for wild turkey. Our beds sat in a large barn made into a home. It included an upstairs and downstairs bedroom, bath, living room space, and full kitchen for our convenience. The property also held a man-made pond / swimming hole. Up the street is a convenience store called “Buddy’s” and down to the left is the “Dollar General”. To get anywhere, it seems like you drive down a long straight road for 10 miles, turn left, then drive down another long straight road for 20 miles. It’s far different from the winding, hilly, roads of Seattle. It was clear that we weren’t in the city anymore, and it was wonderful!
Our group had been asked to assist with hosting the Japanese wedding guests. We took the job very seriously and did everything we could to provide them with a good time. I immediately thought of my honeymoon, when Naoko gave us a tour of a place she barely knew and here we were returning the favor for her friends and family. While her Japanese guests were experiencing American culture shocks, we were also experiencing some culture shocks of our own. The first thing we noticed was how incredibly warm and welcoming every Ohioan was that we came into contact with. Cousins of Luke’s that felt like our cousins. There was Uncle Bill who was a hoot and made you feel like you’ve known him for years. His parents and other relatives treated us as though we were extended family members. It didn’t stop there. Store clerks talk to you as though they truly care about how your day is going. People mowing the lawn waive to you when you drive by. Time moves slower somehow, and the people seem generally happier. This is a place where you can learn to stop and smell the roses.
The Wedding
The big day had finally arrived. The ceremony was held in a beautiful Japanese garden (yes they have those in Ohio!). Naoko’s dad walked her down the aisle proudly and the bride looked like a fairytale princess. I forgot to mention that Luke and Naoko actually got officially married at the courthouse two years prior. The purpose of the wedding ceremony was to celebrate with friends and family. Doing it this way certainly does take some of the pressure off! That being said, it felt just as special (if not more so) than any other wedding ceremony. Their officiant was their Japanese teacher (”sensei”) from Bowling Green State University. They couldn’t have picked a better person as she performed the ceremony in both Japanese and English. Whatsmore, Luke and Naoko decided to write their vows together and spoke them to the audience, rather than to each other; Luke in English, Naoko in Japanese. The fact that part of their vows included thanking their friends/family was so beautiful. Such a special moment.
The party following the ceremony is a blur of awesomeness, as most weddings go. Filled with dancing, drinking, partying, crying, puking, and all the other joys of wedding festivities. We’ll leave the rest up to your imagination. ;)
The Post-Wedding BBQ
Luke’s family home is like a playground. In the barn, you can feed the chickens beneath the creaky movement of the barn cat scouting for mice. On the right side of the barn is acres of open field where guests could hit golf balls into the forested area or take a ride on their four-wheeler. To the left, Luke’s dad pulls clay pigeons for guests to try and shoot with their shotgun. In front of the house is cousin Steve cooking up meats of all kinds. In the garage are tables where the mixed family congregates. Grandma is sitting in the shade with her ice-tea. Others are bouncing tennis balls in front of the garage while Mrs. Thody (yours respectfully) gets carried around over the shoulder by her husband. It’s the type of home that makes you feel like you’re apart of it. When you walk in the kitchen it’s like something out of a Country Living magazine. Any minute, Mama Heidi is going to ring the bell for supper. This is the type of place you go to unwind, unplug, and just relax. The weather can never seem to make up its mind. One minute the sun is shining so bright and the air warms you with its humidity. The next minute, a storm is rolling in and you’re suddenly running to the house for a warm jacket and an umbrella. It reminded me slightly of my hometown in Rochester, WA, yet different. Such a comfortable lifestyle.
Judges ruling - Ohio is a wonderful place filled with wonderful people. Never did I think I’d ever say these words, but it’s true. Check that state off the list! Is it flat like they say? Yes, yes it is. Is there poison ivy in the woods? Yes, yes there is. Does the general population have a grasp of agriculture? Yes, yes they do. Are the people nice? Above and beyond what you could imagine. :)
Join the tokyotwosome next time when they venture off on their next excursion. Will it be Europe? Or maybe another whacky American state? Stay tuned to find out!
1 note
·
View note
Text
Scotland: A Rainy Gem
7/30/2019 - Driving through England and making our way north to Edinburgh was thrilling - literally I couldn’t stop smiling. One look at the architecture and you knew you’d crossed into a new world. Though England had its own set of charm, Scotland had us feeling more at home. The gray clouds danced above, giving us the uncertainty of wetness to follow. Sound like Seattle? After our long journey, we decided to park our car and make our way to the airbnb, a small apartment in the heart of Edinburgh. After dropping off our luggage, we immediately felt the urge to grab a glass of scotch at a nearby pub. So that’s exactly what we did. We ordered two doubles on the rocks (which we would later learn is NOT the way to drink scotch). All the same, our first sip of scotch in Scotland did not disappoint.
The people in Scotland are rougher around the edges, in a good way! We had felt so barbaric in England; like a couple of Americans learning not to slouch at the dinner table for the first time. Scotland was different. I felt like these were MY PEOPLE. These are the type of folks you can have a drink with and talk about whatever is on your mind without fear of hidden judgement. If there is judgement, they’ll tell you upfront. It was refreshing!
Walking through the city, you saw a mix of locals and tourists. You can spot the locals out from their dark-scale clothing and their lack of excitement. The tourists look like they just walked into Disneyland (that was us). We walked down cobble roads with gothic architecture throughout. Occasionally, you’d hear a man playing bagpipes in the streets for tourists. We watched one fellow playing, wearing his full piper attire, kilt and all. This guy had a knife in his sock, so you know he meant business!
Edinburgh Castle can be seen up on a high hill. We ventured our way up, to see the castle up close. We decided not to pay the fee to enter the castle and instead opted to do a scotch tour. Next to Edinburgh Castle is The Scotch Whisky Experience. This place is home to the largest Scotch collection in the world. The tour fee was not too bad and the tour itself was remarkable! We learned all about the fermentation process as well as how the different regions in Scotland vary in flavor. We soon discovered that we loved the region of Islay (pronounced EYE-la) for it’s smoky taste. We also learned that the proper way to drink scotch is DOUBLE (if you’re ordering a single, you may as well not order scotch) and NEAT (water changes the taste and just waters down the deliciousness). The tour guide suggested to take one sip, and with the second sip, exhale through your nose. This will allow you to get the full-body aroma of the scotch.
Throughout the UK, just like in England, the museums were completely FREE of charge. As a Mary Queen of Scots (16th century Scottish royal) fan myself, we made our way to the National Museum of Scotland. It was exciting seeing original belongings of old royalty. Below, I’m standing next what is thought to be the original cradle used for Queen Mary’s son, James VI in 1566. They even had a tomb replica of the Queen, as she is buried in Westminster Abbey along with countless other royals.
Our final stay in Scotland was one for my bucket list - staying in a castle. The castle we chose was once the hunting lodge for Mary Queen of Scots. There are even trees on-site that were planted by the Queen herself. I was in history heaven! There were stories of a haunted room - and no we did not stay in this room and ghost sightings throughout the landscape. The castle has been converted into a full hotel, with a restaurant in the cellar, a bar in the library room, and breathtaking landscape.
Since our trip in Scotland was short lived, we didn’t get to try everything on our list, but we did get to eat some surprisingly delicious haggis (a ground mix of sheep’s pluck). We decided to try it in a fried ball form - very savoury! We washed it down with a double scotch neat (the proper way).
This is certainly not the last time we will be visiting Scotland. We only had a taste of what seems to be a very rich culture. The countryside would be beautiful to see as well as the coastal regions where many of the best scotch comes from. Come back to read more next time when the tokyotwosome visits Asia - Japan and Vietnam. Thanks for reading!
0 notes
Last Seen Blogs
dazzlinggirl-g
Pretty woman ♪
hegemoneapple
Hegemoneapple
stitchedbyloony
this ones about yarn
morresbrey-blog
Untitled
probably-impossible
Probably-Impossible